Dhaka calls upon C'wealth to ensure food security

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Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury called upon Commonwealth countries to focus on ensuring food security for its citizens, reports UNB .
He said this while addressing the Special Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (SCHOGM), held at the United Nations Headquarters Wednesday afternoon, said a press release.
He said, "All Millennium Development Goals critically hinge on poverty and hunger, all other goals on health, education, supply of safe drinking water and women empowerment largely depended on defeating the scourge of hunger."
The Foreign Adviser suggested food exporting and importing Commonwealth countries to arrive at a "compact" to address the issue more effectively.
He said that recently Bangladesh had proposed the setting up of a Food Bank and consequently the UN Secretary General had established a Task Force in this connection. He urged upon the Commonwealth Secretariat to complement these efforts. The Foreign Adviser said, "The Commonwealth unites us in the spirit of solidarity, mutual respect and compassion. These values must be upheld at all costs."
"In order for our democratic societies to survive, we must ensure our citizens are fed and have equal access to opportunities. This is our collective responsibility," he added.